'hahaha,' Alden unexpectedly smirked, rendering Lucas to glance twice and carefully to be sure that what he regarded as his inexperienced Lord is still his young Lord.
He had thoroughly warned Alden, who the Apothecary guild was and what the elf woman who had withheld to herself...
Still, Lucas's dilemmas have risen watching the city lord. Observing Alden, Lucas studied the youth, a closer look at Alden. He appeared to caress his temple while grimacing, then he would feel his chin and tugged it as if he had a long beard to caress. All while smiling and frowning.
[Perhaps his tenure of impulse had taken hold of him.] Lucas thought.
He felt bewildered, unclear of what was happening, he whispered.
"Young Lord?", agitated, Lucas's thoughts raced wildly. Perhaps the young Lord's mental state had already rotted, because of the pressure he had experienced dealing with such a situation and action of the Elven woman.
While Lucas had called out to Alden, reassuring a reply,
Alden gestured to him to keep quiet. Alden closed his eyes for a moment and As he did so, his palms rest well on the armchair of the seat shimmered slowly with gold-like color. The shimmering light dances as his palm held it, then Alden opened his palm. Slowly revealing the item he held.
' A veil of Kindred spirit potion,' Alden spoke slowly. He open his eyes and looked at his palm. Lucas was stunned to some extent, but dare not outright reveal it.
It has been a couple of months so far. Lucas has been with the young Lord for many occasional odd moments where he had witnessed frightening scenes that were solely done by this youth. Treacherous side of him that would leave anyone frightened. Countless magic spells that had never been seen before, dark like magic, that twisted reality itself bends its will to the youth who sat on the chair. Many ideas that seem so otherworldly and precise made Lucas unconsciously put his trust and faith in the youth.
At first, Lucas only had a glimpse, but over time, he truly now knows what betraying the young Lord would mean. Aldens' savage mind that always seems to have a solution to the riddle that he himself takes pride in his education and quick-wittedness had fallen short.
Behind Alden, Lucas felt liberated, knowing that, staring at the shimmering golden light on the palm of the youth. Sadness formed upon him. He, as old as he had become today, suddenly remembered a shunned memory that was blurred with the rest of his unwanted emotions. If one were to look at the middle-aged man now, they would have noticed the griping fist and the aching, uncertain expression on his face. His mouth was open to speaking, but hesitation held him. His mind is now as absent as the youth.
Silence filled the visitor's mansion.
The silence and slow ticking of time rendered the guest mansion embody a genuine work of art. A picturesque view of a tyrant, beaming golden light on his palm who sat on the throne.
Alden had entirely neglected Lucas and tunneled deeper into his mind again, imagining schemes of what would be the clearest outcomes in the upcoming disorder in summer city.
To Alden's inner thought, he basically had overlooked that perhaps, the veil of kindred spirit his holding on the palm of his hands was not an object he should have just passed as a common concoction.
The meaning of producing the healing potion and the meaning of hiding his identity would not yield success in the long term. Therefore, he had given up on that idea and embraced having a mysterious Master Alchemist as a backing. A very low risk, he had thought before, yet to draw the attention of the Apothecary Guild, one of the biggest firms that solely stand rogue and influential is unavoidable.
I mean, what else is there for him to do? He felt stuck and isolated from the life he lives as a talentless noble. Weak in his current state and regardless of his status, he, in the eyes of many, is simply prey. To whatever worries he feels now would do nothing but reaffirm that the elf woman and the Apothecary guild are after the healing potion. They and many more of those who rule behind closed doors had smelt his scent.
[To what length they would go depends on the value of their life] Alden thought, he smiled
[That's rights]
[The more you cannot have it, the better the uncontrollable temptation]
It was an obvious ploy of the Apothecary guild to stay in this backwater city. None, even those with a significant amount of wealth, would rather risk putting themselves in danger and achieving their goal than staying here.
[the Apothecary guild has other plans in mind]
[they'll draw to too much attention]
[I need a cover up]
[everything could go to ruin for me. If I don't act fast,
[but who will cover for me?] Alden thought
*sigh* he sounded
It's not that he had given up on taking control to make himself known by all. No, it was about everything moving forward too fast. Before everything had spun out of his control, Alden needed a vision; no, Alden needed someone that has a clear vision, someone that could believe his words as blind faith. Someone that would not question how and where he had got his ideas from. The royal family and the church of Zapa are out of the equation. He would rather not even think about them. To seek help from those two would be like throwing yourself into molten lava, lava that has a divine insight with a twisted nature to play with its food. No, he needed someone who has enough voice and is ignorant of his potential.
[who should I seek?]
[hmmmm]
[wait!]
[Something is missing in this picture]
He massaged his temples and scratched his head; this action had made Lucas stare at Alden profusely. Lucas did not say a word; in fact, he made sure not even to breathe loudly. This was the habit that he had to adopt lately. Therefore, inside his mind, Lucas would always look forward to this habit of his young Lord.
[the Von Farrow?]
[No, not them]
[if push comes to shove, they will shove me into a corner]
[Completely cut me off from establishing any business or any rights.]
[in the affairs of the Von Farrows, I'm an easy target for malicious intent] he thought.
Alden refused to take part with the Von farrow family directly. He was a man of reasons; he would reject any delusion that would pull him and put him in the strings of fate.
For example, Alden's biggest worry is the Von farrow family rules that are equipped with a double-edge sword. A double-edged sword that's specifically made for him. Barons, viscounts, and actual counts are all part of the inner circle of the Von Farrow. The pillars who voiced their opinion openly refused him any rights to claim the title of a duke. Even if he were to start his business openly, they would just take it from him and say he was irresponsible and weak to protect it. They will strip him of any benefit or a gap to get it back. If he rebels, they would simply just indirectly kill him. It was an obvious decision that Von farrows wants nothing to do with him. Even if the family were to plot against him, the duke would do nothing about it.
[he had already made his choice]
[he kept his talented kids and threw out the useless one.]
[So running back to them for shelter is out of my reach.]